Collapsible chair



Dec. 26, 1967 .w.o 1 A ETAL. I 3,360,297

COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR Filed Oct; 24, 1965 INVENTOR- fxomeozimaumnmv M? M United St;-

This invention relates to a collapsible portable chair, especially of the commode type.

The chair is particularly useful in hospitals, nursing homes and private homes or other places where infirm or invalid persons must be accommodated.

Convenience chairs have, of course, been known for years. Some have been collapsible for transport from one place to another. However, collapsible chairs as heretofore known have lacked the stability and sturdiness frequently desired and even considered essential for safe use by some invalid or infirm people. The arrangement of elements in the collapsible portable chair of this invention is such that the chair is stable and sturdy to such extent that it resembles the sturdiness associated with a permanent non-collapsible chair.

The chair of this invention has a seat member, a horizontally-extending vertically-oriented brace assembly, and two horizontally-extending vertically-oriented rigid support units. Each of the rigid support units includes a seat-supporting member and a support leg. Each rigid support unit is pivotally attached to the brace assembly. The pivotal attachment is such that each rigid support unit is foldable to a position essentially adjacent the brace assembly. The pivotal attachments are so formed as to have little or no free lateral play movement (that is, little or no play for relative horizontal movement between parts). The seat member of the chair cooperates in an interlocking fashion with the rigid support units to contribute to total stability for the chair when the seat member is in operative use position. Yet the seat member may be shifted in position, or removed, so as to permit collapsing of other components of the chair for easy transport from one place to another. Still other advantages and benefits offered by this invention will become evident from the description to follow.

The invention will be described by reference to a drawing made a part hereof wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the chair in operative use condition;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the seat member of the chair removed from its support members;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 with the seat member removed and with other parts of the chair broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 44 of FIGURE 1 showing a rigid support unit as well as an enlargement, partially broken away, of a pivotal attachment between the rigid support unit and components of the brace assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a top elevation showing in collapsed condition the brace assembly and rigid support units and other components or elements of the chair, excluding the backrest member and the seat member therefrom; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 2 illustrating a means for supporting a pan underneath the seat of a commode chair embodiment of the invention.

The chair includes a seat member 10, which at least has a rigid base portion. The seat may or may not be covered with padding. In the commode embodiment, the rigid base seat member is preferably of wood or plastic material and has a hole or opening 11 centrally located therein. If desired, a padded separate seat member may be hinged (or rested or interlocked) on top of the com- 7 atent mode seat member to convert the chair to sitting room use.

A brace assembly 12, including a horizontal brace member 13 and two brace legs 14 and 15, extends in a horizontal direction, ordinarily along one side of the chair, preferably the front of the chair. The two brace legs 14 and 15 are operably attached to the brace assembly such that they support it in a vertical plane.

To each lateral end of the brace assembly 12 is operably attached a rigid support unit 16 and 17. The first rigid support unit 16 includes a seat-supporting member 18 and a support leg 19 spaced laterally remote from the attachment of the rigid support unit 16 to the brace assembly 12. The second or other rigid support unit 17 is made up of seat-supporting member 20 (not shown in FIGURE 1 but shown in FIGURES 3 and 4), and a support leg 21 spaced laterally remote from the attachment of this second rigid support unit to the brace assembly. Both rigid support units 16 and 17 extend in a horzontal direction but in a vertical plane; thus they too are vertically-oriented just as the brace assembly is vertically-oriented.

The operable attachment of each rigid support unit 16 and 17 to the brace assembly 12 is a pivotal attachment, preferably formed as illustrated in the drawing. In this respect one element of the pivotal attachment at each end of the brace assembly 12 may be a verticallyextending pin or pivot member 22 and 23, which preferably but not necessarily is the same as brace legs '14 and 15. About each vertically-extending member 22 and 23 is a snug sleeve assembly, preferably of verticallyspaced sleeve parts. The vertically-spaced sleeve parts 24 and 25 constitute a snug sleeve assembly for the vertically-extending pivot member 22 at one lateral end of the brace assembly; and the vertically-spaced sleeve parts 26 and 27 constitute a snug sleeve assembly for verticallyextending pivot member 23 at the other end of the brace assembly.

Each pivotal attachment for a rigid Support unit 16 and 17 is stabilized against free lateral play movement in that the joint between rigid support units and the brace assembly is not loose. It may be possible to employ mere snugly fitted hinged sleeve members about a pin, or possible to employ other members than illustrated, to accomplish this result. However, a preferred means for achieving stabilization of each hinged pivotal attachment against free lateral play movement is to fractionally tilt vertically-spaced sleeve parts (24 and 25 for pin 22; and 26 and 27 for pin 23) from true vertical alignment. When they are then placed over the pin or vertically-extending member 22 or 23, they act in combination to maintain vertically-spaced oppositely-directed bendingtype forces against the pin or vertically-extending member 22 or 23. In other words, the slight tilt of one verticallyspaced sleeve member 24 from the vertical alignment of the other 25 (or several others as in a hinge) tends to cause both vertically-spaced sleeve members 24 and 25 to exert oppositely directed forces upon the pin or vertically-extending member 22. It may be difi-lcult to slide the vertically-extending member 22 through sleeve members or parts 24 and 25 when they are fractionally tilted out of vertical alignment, but the tilting of the sleeve parts is not so great as to make it impossible to slide vertical pin 22 therethrough in manufacture. The added stability against rapid development of free lateral play movement in the pivot joint or attachment makes the effort in manufacture well worthwhile.

Each pivotally attached rigid support unit 16 and 17 (the first having seat-supporting member 18 and leg 19; the second having seat-supporting member 20 and leg 21) is foldable to a position essentially adjacent the brace assembly 12 made up of horizontal brace member 13 and legs 14 and 15. This feature is illustrated in FIGURE 5, which shows each rigid support unit 16 and 17 in folded or collapsed condition adjacent the brace assembly 12.

FIGURES 1, 2 and 4 are useful to explain the preferred relationship between the seat member and the rigid support units 16 and 17. In essence, seat member 10 and the rigid support units 16 and 17 are equipped with cooperating interlocking portions which, when interlocked, are effective to unite the seat member 10 to the rigid support units 16 and 17. The connection between these members is such that the seat member 10 is held against horizontal displacement with respect to the rigid support units 16 and 17. Normally, the connection is also such that the rigid support units 16 and 17 as well as the seat member 10 are held against horizontal displacement with respect to each other. However, the connection between the cooperating interlocking portions is such that it can be separated. When separated, each of the horizontal support units is foldable toward the horizontallyextending brace assembly 112 to a collapsed position as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The collapsed chair is easily transported from one place to another.

The preferred specific cooperating interlocking portions illustrated in FIGURES l and 3 include two pairs of cooperating interlocking parts. One member of each pair of interlocking parts is on the seat member; and as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the member is a horizontally directed recess or pin-receiving opening 28 and 29. The members on the seat 10 are spaced so that one 28 is adapted to interlock with a part on one rigid support unit 16, and the other 29 to interlock with a part on the second rigid support unit 17. The other member of each pair of interlocking parts is a horizontally-directed pin 30 and 31; and each rigid support unit carries such a pin. Preferably, as illustrated, the cooperating horizontal interlocking parts on each rigid support unit 16 and 17 are at a location on each rigid support unit 16 and 17 remote from the operable attachment thereof to the brace assembly 12. This advantageously permits the remote free portion of each rigid support unit 16 and 17 to be interlocked with the seat member 10 in a rather stabilized manner. The seat member at the interlock between recesses 28 and 29 and pins 30 and 31 is stabilized against lifting movement from the chair. Also, the rigid support units 16 and 17 are stabilized against lateral or horizontal movement.

The seat member 16 is stabilized against horizontal forward movement by flanges 32 and 33 which are so mounted in relation to the brace assembly of the chair that they act as brace abutment flanges to prevent the seat 10 of the chair from sliding horizontally out of the horizontal interlock of recesses 28 and 29 about pins 30 and 31. Further lateral vertical interlock flanges or parts 34 and 35 are such that they cooperate with the seat member 10 to interlock and prevent lateral horizontal shifting of the seat member 10 with respect to the rigid support units 16 and 17. Any suitable spaced vertical pin or flange on the rigid support units (or on the seat member 10) adapted to enter a vertical recess or cooperate with the side of the seat 10 (or a recess carried by the rigid support units 16 and 17) may be employed to gain an interlock which stabilizes the seat member 10 against horizontal or lateral shifting and which stabilizes the rigid support units also against lateral shifting. Thus, it is not necessary to employ a seat support member of the character of angle irons 18 and 20 as illustrated in the drawing. Indeed the seat support member of the rigid support unit may simply be a part of a leg 19 and 21; but in such cases it is preferred to add bracing to the seat member itself. Side vertical interlocks are most preferred; and the form illustrated in the drawing (e.g., sides of seat member 10 cooperating with vertical flanges 34 and 35 of side angle irons having the horizontal flange seat support 1 8 and 20) is preferred for overall stability for the chair. Whatever specific interlocks are employed, the preferred structure is such that the seat member 10 and the rigid support units 16 and 17, when interlocked, are stabilized against lateral horizontal movement with respect to each other. Further, one side of the seat member is held against upward movement when it is equipped to effect horizontal interlocking such as aforenoted. The specific interlocking illustrated in the drawing has the special advantage of being very firm in its interlock and yet easily disconnected for transporting the chair, with the seat removed.

A further illustrative variant from the specific structure in the drawings is one where the seat member is hinged to the brace assembly along the uppermost part of the brace assembly 12, and pivotable to rest on a simple seat supporting member of each rigid support unit when the chair is in use condition. The seat may be spring clamped to the rigid support units, or vertical pin and recess interlocks may be employed in this variation.

A backrest member 36, suitably padded if desired, may be added to the chair. This backrest is preferably completely removable; and the elements permitting this result include laterally spaced depending members such as stubs or pins 37 and 38, suitably of tubular metal as illustrated in FIGURE 3. On each rigid support unit 16 and 17, normally at a location on the rigid support unit 16 and 17 remote from the operable attachment thereof to the horizontal brace assembly 12, is a cooperating backrest interlock member 39 and 40. One backrest interlock member 39 and 40 is rigidly fixed to each rigid support unit. Either the backrest 36 or the rigid support units 16 and 17 may carry the stub members such as stubs 37 and 38. If the rigid support units 16 and 17 carry that member, then the backrest 36 carries a stub-receiving cooperative interlock member such as the stub-receiving tubes 39 and 40. Alternatively, other suitable cooperative interlock members between the backrest and the rigid support units may be employed. For example a bayonet interlock may be used. As illustrated, the removable backrest 36 is adapted to unite the free foldable portion of the rigid support units 16 and 17 and serves, either alone (if desired) or in combination with the seat member of the chair, to stabilize the components of the chair against lateral play movement.

Suitably the chair may be equipped with casters 41, 42, 43 and 44 on which it is supported for rolling movement. When so equipped, it is also preferably equipped with means 45 to brake it against such rolling movement. Preferably the braking means is operable by hand while sitting in the chair. Such a brake may have a vertical plunger or brake leg 46 movable telescopically within a leg sleeve or tubular element 47. The brake leg 46 has a friction element 48 at its lower tip for braking contact with the floor supporting the chair. Leg sleeve 45 is permanently fixed to the chair, suitably to a rigid support unit of the chair. A section 49 of leg sleeve 47 is hinged at its upper extremity to the leg sleeve 47 and equipped with a handle member 50. When the handle 50 is raised from the position shown in FIGURE 1, the section 49 pivots outwardly from its hinged upper extremity. A connecting rod or rods (not shown) extends between (i) the lower part of hinged section 49 (or at about two-thirds the distance from the hinged top of section 49) and (ii) the top of leg 46 within leg sleeve 47. (In essence, the section 49 and the connecting rod are in the nature of a toggle mechanism.) When section 49 is pivoted outwardly from its hinged top, the connecting rod is pulled upwardly and outwardly. This draws the brake leg 46 and its friction element 48 upwardly and out of braking contact with the surface on which the chair is located. A brake unit comparable to that described is carried on the right side of the chair as well as the left side; however, for clarity in the drawing, the brake unit on the right arm side of the chair has been omitted. Brake units of the just noted type are described in greater detail in our copending application Serial No. 470,429 filed July 8, 1965. 7

When the chair is to be used as a commode, it may be positioned over permanently installed waste removal units or commodes; or if desired, it may be equipped with a removable pan 51 for Waste. Illustratively the pan 51 may have a wide lateral edge 52 which recesses or slides in pan holding strips 53 and 54 afiixed to seat member 10.

Suitably the chair is equipped with arm rests 55 and 56. In the preferred embodiment, the arm rest 55 as well as the legs 14 and 19 on one side of the chair are all formed of one length of tubular metal bent to the shape illustrated.

Alternatively, the arm rest 55 and pin 22 of the pivotal attachment for rigid support unit 16, plus the leg 19 of the rigid support unit 16, may be formed into one unit. Leg 14, as a separate element from pin 22, then may be rigidly fixed to brace assembly 12 or to the horizontal brace 13. Another possibility is to locate pin 22 of the pivotal attachment for rigid support unit 16 ata point adjacent brace leg 14 and still unify brace leg 14 with rigid support unit 16. Brace legs 14 and 15 may be disposed forwardly of brace member 13 (or brace member 13 may be recessed under the chair a short distance) and rigidly fixed to brace member 13, with the pivotal attachments for the rigid support units 16 and 17 also shifted slightly back from their illustrated location and attached to the very ends of the recessed brace member 13. Many other variations are possible while still retaining the essential features of the invention.

For example, instead of the preferred cooperative interlocks between the seat member and rigid support units 16 and 17, one may employ a separate disengageable bar member to join the free ends of the rigid support units 16 and 17 and thereby unite the rigid support units for support of the seat member in stabilized condition. Alternatively the backrest 36 may be employed to unite. the rigid support-units if some stability may be sacrificed.

The view in FIGURE 4 shows a depending tab 57 atfixed to rigid support unit 17. The tab57 is for attachment of abraking means 45 as aforediscussed. A similar tab, not shown, is used to affix brake 45 to rigid support unit 16;

. FIGURE 4 also illustrates a reinforcing bar 58 extending between leg members and 21, and also through to hold member-40 to which the backrest 36 is connected.

The horizontal interlock pins 30 and 31 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 are suitably mounted on vertical plates 59 and 60 affixed to their respective rigid support units 16 and 17.

A preferred horizontal brace member 13 is one with horizontally spaced tubular 'metal bars 61 and 62 with vertical reinforcing bars 63 and 64 extending between them. As illustrated, one sleeve member 24 of the pivot attachment for rigid support unit 16 is fixed to bar 61 and another sleeve member 25 of the pivot attachment is affixed to bar 62. Between the sleeve members 24 and 25 is a guide collar or bushing 65 which is rigidly fixed to the pin 22 of the pivot attachment. Similarly, the pivot attachment for support unit 17 is such that between sleeve members 26 and 27 is a guide collar 66 (see FIGURE 4) rigidly fixed to pin 23 of the pivot hinge for the unit 17. These guide collars 65 and 66 prevent longitudinal shifting of the elements making up the pivot attachments of the rigid support units 16 and 17 to the brace assembly 12.

While we have described our invention by referring to the specific preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings, it should be recognized that there are many phases of it which may be varied Without departing from its essential character.

Further, additional elements and features may be built into or added to the chair of the invention. For example, foot boards may be added. Telescoping legs for the foot boards (for raising and lowering the foot boards) may be used. The stationary member of the telescoping legs may be added, as by welding or riveting, to the brace as- 6 sembly of the chair. Also, if desired, the arms of the chair may be made detachable or removable in a manner analogous to the detachability of the backrest member; or the arms may be made pivotable from one end, such as the end near the backrest member of the chair. By making the arms detachable, or by omitting them, an infirm individual may slide conveniently sidewise onto the chair from a bed, or vice versa. Bracing and reinforcing strips of metal or the like may be used to strengthen components of the chair, or make components which interlock or cooperate in other ways more resistant to wear.

That which is claimed is:

1. A collapsible portable chair comprising, in combina tion, a seat member, a horizontally-extending verticallyoriented brace assembly including a horizontal brace member below the plane of said seat member and two brace legs operably attached to opposite ends of said brace member for support of said brace assembly in a vertical plane, a first horizontally-extending vertically-oriented rigid support unit operably attached to one end of said brace assembly, and a second horizontally-extending verticallyoriented rigid support unit operably attached to the other end of said brace assembly, each of said rigid support units comprising a seat-supporting member adapted to act in combination with said seat member to hold said seat member against horizontal displacement with respect to said rigid support units and a support leg spaced laterally remote from the attachment of the rigid support unit to said brace assembly, said chair being characterized further in that 1) each operable attachment of a rigid support unit to an end of said brace assembly is a pivotal attachment of cooperating metal parts including a vertically-extending metal pivot member which constitutes a said brace leg rigidly united with a rigid support unit, and a snug metal sleeve assembly of verticallyspaced parts about said pivot member and rigidly fixed to said horizontal brace member, with a guide collar rigidly fixed to said vertically-extending metal pivot member at a location between the vertically-spaced parts of said met-a1 sleeve assembly, each said operable attachment being such that the rigid support unit is foldable to a position essentially adjacent said brace assembly, and (2) disengageable means to unite said rigid support units at the portion thereof remote from their pivotal attachment, whereby said seat member may be located in operative seat-use condition on said rigid support units, said means when separated With said seat member out of seat-use condition being such as to allow each of said rigid support units to be folded toward said horizontally-extending brace assembly to collapse said chair for transport from one place to another.

2. The chair of claim 1 in which the disengageable means to unite said rigid support units comprises cooperating interlocking portions on said seat member and on said rigid support units, said cooperating interlocking portions on said seat member being adapted to interlock with the cooperative interlocking portions on said rigid support units to thereby unite said seat member to said rigid support units, said cooperative interlocking portions on said seat member being separable from the cooperative interlocking portions on said rigid support units to allow said rigid support units to be folded to a position essentially adjacent said horizontally-extending brace assembly.

3. The chair of claim 1 in which the vertically spaced parts of each snug sleeve assembly are fractionally tilted from true vertical alignment so as to act in combination to maintain vertically-spaced oppositely-directly bendingtype forces against the vertically-extending metal pivot member within each sleeve assembly.

4. The chair of claim 2 in which the cooperating interlocking portions of said seat member and the rigid support units include two pairs of cooperating inter-locking parts with one member of each pair on the seat member and the other member of each pair on said rigid support units, each pair of said cooperating interlocking parts comprising a horizontally directed recess as one member and a horizontally directed pin as the other member, whereby the cooperating interlocking parts when interlocked are effective to prevent upward movement of the seat member in the portion thereof equipped with said cooperating interlocking parts.

5. The chair of claim 1 in which the seat member is completely removable by hand from the seat-supporting members of the rigid support units without the need for any tools, said chair being further characterized by having a removable backrest member with laterally-spaced backrest supports and by having a cooperating interlock memher for each of said laterally-spaced backrest supports, one of said cooperating interlock members being rigidly attached to each rigid support unit at a location on the rigid support unit remote from the operable attachment thereof to the horizontal brace assembly, whereby the removable backrest is adapted to unite the free foldable portion of the rigid support units to stabilize components of the chair against lateral play movement.

6. The chair of claim 1 rendered mobile by the addition of casters on which it is supported for rolling movement and by the addition of braking means to brake it against said rolling movement, said braking means being operable by hand while sitting in the chair and comprising a brake leg having a friction element on the end thereof for braking contact with the floor supporting the chair.

7. The chair of claim 3 rendered mobile by the addition of casters on which it is supported for rolling movement and by the addition of braking means to brake it against said rolling movement, said braking means being operable by hand while sitting in the chair and comprising a brake leg having a friction element on the end thereof for braking contact with the floor supporting the chair.

8. The chair of claim 3 having two pairs of cooperating interlocking parts to unite said seat member and said rigid support units, one member of each pair being on the seat member and the other member of each pair being on said rigid support units, each pair of said cooperating interlocking parts comprising a horizontally directed recess as one member and a horizontally directed pin as the other member, whereby the cooperating interlocking parts when interlocked are effective to prevent upward movement of the seat member in the portion thereof equipped with said cooperating interlocking parts.

9. The chair of claim 3 in which the seat member is completely removable by hand from the seat-supporting members of the rigid support units without the need for any tools, said chair being further characterized by having a removable backrest member with laterally-spaced backrest supports and by having a cooperating interlock member for each of said laterally-spaced backrest supports, one of said cooperating interlock members being rigidly attached to each rigid support unit at a location on the rigid support unit remote from the operable attachment thereof to the horizonal brace assembly, whereby the removable backrest is adapted to unite the free foldable portion of the rigid support units to stabilize components of the chair against lateral play movement.

10. A collapsible portable chair comprising, in combination, a seat member, a horizontally-extending vertically-oriented brace assembly including a horizontal brace member below the plane of said seat member and two brace legs operably attached to opposite ends of said brace member for support of said brace assembly in a vertical plane, a first horizontally-extending verticallyoriented rigid support unit operably attached to one end of said brace assembly, and a second horizontally-extending vertically-oriented rigid support unit operably attached to the other end of said brace assembly, each of said rigid support units comprising a seat-supporting member and a support leg spaced laterally remote from the attachment of the rigid support unit to said brace assembly, said chair being characterized further in that (1) each operable attachment of a rigid support unit to an end of said brace assembly is a pivotal attachment stabilized against free lateral play movement, each said operable attachment being such that the rigid support unit is foldable to a position essentially adjacent said brace assembly, (2) disengageable means which unite said rigid support units at the portion thereof remote from their pivotal attachment, whereby said seat member may be located in operative seat-use condition on said rigid support units, said means when separated with said seat member out of seat-use condition being such as to allow each of said rigid support units to be folded toward said horizontally-extending brace assembly to collapse said chair for transport from one place to another, and (3) horizontally-directed parts on said seat member which cooperatively interlock with horizontally-directed parts on said rigid support units, one of said parts being a recess and the other a pin, whereby upward movement of said seat member in operative seat-use condition is prevented in the portion thereof equipped with said interlocking parts.

11. The chair of claim 10 in which the seat member is completely removable by hand from the seat-supporting members of the rigid support units without the need for any tools, said chair being further characterized by having a removable backrest member with laterally-spaced backrest supports and by having a cooperating interlock member for each of said laterally-spaced backrest supports, one of said cooperating interlock members being rigidly attached to each rigid support unit at a location on the rigid support unit remote from the operable attachment thereof to the horizontal brace assembly, whereby the removable backrest is adapted to unite the free foldable portion of the rigid support units to stabilize components of the chair against lateral play movement.

12. The chair of claim 10 in which one brace leg is rigidly united to the first rigid support unit, and the other brace leg is rigidly united to the second rigid support unit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,213 7/ 1909 Gullickson 29742 1,240,692 9/ 1917 Fenton 29736 2,129,260 9/ 1938 Bowser 2976 2,312,602 3/ 1943 Taylor 29736 2,437,778 3/1948 Ames 2976 2,563,553 8/ 1951 Rosenjack 297--36 2,592,405 4/1952 Everest et a1 29742 3,098,651 7/ 1963 Murcott 2975 FOREIGN PATENTS 624,906 4/ 1927 France.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE CHAIR COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SEAT MEMBER, A HORIZONTALLY-EXTENDING VERTICALLYORIENTED BRACE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL BRACE MEMBER BELOW THE PLANE OF SAID SEAT MEMBER AND TWO BRACE LEGS OPERABLY ATTACHED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BRACE MEMBER FOR SUPPORT OF SAID BRACE ASSEMBLY IN A VERTICAL PLANE, A FIRST HORIZONTALLY-EXTENDING VERTICALLY-ORIENTED RIGID SUPPORT UNIT OPERABLY ATTACHED TO ONE END OF SAID BRACE ASSEMBLY, AND A SECOND HORIZONTALLY-EXTENDING VERTICALLYORIENTED RIGID SUPPORT UNIT OPERABLY ATTACHED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID BRACE ASSEMBLY, EACH OF SAID RIGID SUPPORT UNITS COMPRISING A SEAT-SUPPORTING MEMBER ADAPTED TO ACT IN COMBINATION WITH SAID SEAT MEMBER TO HOLD SAID SEAT MEMBER AGAINST HORIZONTAL DISPLACEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID RIGID SUPPORT UNITS AND A SUPPORT LEG SPACED LATERALLY REMOTE FROM THE ATTACHMENT OF THE RIGID SUPPORT UNIT TO SAID BRACE ASSEMBLY, SAID CHAIR BEING CHARACTERIZED FURTHER IN THAT (1) EACH OPERABLE ATTACHMENT OF A RIGID SUPPORT UNIT TO AN END OF SAID BRACE ASSEMBLY IS A PIVOTAL ATTACHMENT OF COOPERATING METAL PARTS INCLUDING A VERTICALLY-EXTENDING METAL PIVOT MEMBER WHICH CONSTITUTES A BRACE LEG RIGIDLY UNITED WITH A RIGID SUPPORT UNIT, AND A SNUG METAL SLEEVE ASSEMBLY OF VERTICALLYSPACED PARTS ABOUT SAID PIVOT MEMBER AND RIGIDLY FIXED TO SAID HORIZONTAL BRACE MEMBER, WITH A GUIDE COLLAR RIGIDLY FIXED TO SAID VERTICALLY-EXTENDING METAL PIVOT MEMBER AT A LOCATION BETWEEN THE VERTICALLY-SPACED PARTS OF SAID METAL SLEEVE ASSEMBLY, EACH SAID OPERABLE ATTACHMENT BEING SUCH THAT THE RIGID SUPPORT UNIT IS FOLDABLE TO A POSITION ESSENTIALLY ADJACENT SAID BRACE ASSEMBLY, AND (2) DISENGAGEABLE MEANS TO UNITE SAID RIGID SUPPORT UNITS AT THE PORTION THEREOF REMOTE FROM THEIR PIVOTAL ATTACHMENT, WHEREBY SAID SEAT MEMBER MAY BE LOCATED IN OPERATIVE SEAT-USE CONDITION ON SAID RIGID SUPPORT UNITS, SAID MEANS WHEN SEPARATED WITH SAID SEAT MEMBER OUT OF SEAT-USE CONDITION BEING SUCH AS TO ALLOW EACH OF SAID RIGID SUPPORT UNITS TO BE FOLDED TOWARD SAID HORIZONTALLY-EXTENDING BRACE ASSEMBLY TO COLLAPSE SAID CHAIR FOR TRANSPORT FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER. 